Councillors have been accused of “narrow-mindedness” after trying to back out of funding for the first joint project of Albury and Wodonga as one community.
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Albury Council is in negotiations with Cricket NSW to increase the funding, which will depend on the outcome of a value management study, but passed a motion on Monday night to make up the $150,000 shortfall in its budget if needed.
Councillors Graham Docksey and Alice Glachan put up a fight, saying although they supported the “one community” partnership, $50,000 should be enough “goodwill” for the centre because it was located in Wodonga.
“I’m starting to get the feeling this is likely to be a one-way street and I caution that because I don’t think we’ll see much coming back across the border this way,” Cr Docksey said.
Cr Glachan said she supported the partnership with Wodonga, but Albury was still its own council and she was “hesitant about providing the amount that was requested”.
“We could always review the amount of funding,” she said.
Cr Murray King criticised the councillors for trying to balk at the first project of the councils’ partnership.
“I’m really disappointed that at the first hurdle for this ongoing relationship that we have with Wodonga, we’re arguing over this amount,” he said. “Albury kids are going to play cricket at this facility.
“We can only have one regional cricket facility in Albury-Wodonga and this is going to be it - this is our opportunity to be a part of it.”
Deputy mayor Amanda Cohn said the money was not “goodwill”, but funding for an important project.
“The community’s waiting with baited breath to see if we really mean this two cities, one community partnership,” she said.
Mayor Kevin Mack said it was important to take the partnership with Wodonga seriously and the joint funding was the start of a new era.
The $150,000 provision was added to Albury Council’s 2018-19 draft budget, which was passed on Monday night with a 2.3 per cent rate rise.
Councillors agreed to fast-track a $900,000 project to improve the roundabout at the intersection of Elizabeth Mitchell and Thurgoona drives, intended to improve traffic congestion.
“This change is designed to get people to and from work and school more efficiently at those peak times in the mornings and afternoons,” Cr Mack said.
“By improving left-hand turn capabilities at the roundabout, we hope to relieve those short but frustrating periods of heavy traffic congestion at the busiest times of day in the fastest-growing area of our city.”
Cr John Stuchbery also successfully moved for a $166,530 lighting project for Bunton Park to be moved forward to occur in three years’ time, and push back a similar project at Albury Sports Ground instead.
The council’s general manager Frank Zaknich said the draft budget contained more than 2600 expenditure items with a total spend of $136 million, including $48 million for capital works.
“This capital works program will deliver a range of important improvements including roads, bridges and footpaths, ongoing sport and recreation developments, major enhancements of the Murray River Experience and the continuing upgrade of the Albury Airport,” he said.
“It’s a responsible and far-sighted budget that works towards ensuring we’re financially sustainable for the future while delivering the outcomes as defined by the community under Albury 2030.”